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[[File:Hekai-Gushu.webp|thumb|right|Pu-erh ''Beng'']]
{{#ev:youtube|id=QE-aXKxPagY||right|Farmer-leaf: Making Pu-erh tea - Step by step guide}}

'''Pu-erh tea''' (普洱茶), also spelled as '''pu'er tea''', is a variety of fermented tea produced in Yunnan province, China. Fermentation is a tea production style in which the tea leaves undergo microbial fermentation and oxidation after they are dried and rolled. This process is a Chinese specialty and produces tea known as [[Hei Cha]] ([[wiktionary:黑茶|黑茶]]), commonly translated to dark, or black tea (this type of tea is completely different from what in West is known as "black tea", which in China is called "red tea"). The most famous variety of this category of tea is Pu-erh from Yunnan Province, named after the trading post for dark tea during imperial China. Real Pu-Erh tea is made of tea leaves harvested of hughe tea trees called Qimao. Initially it was assumed that thoes trees are just very tall [[Assam]] bushes but recent DNA test showed that it's an entire new species. The discoverer named this plant [[Camellia taliensis]] to honor the Dai (Thai) minority which uses this plant traditionally to produce tea. <ref>Bio Med Central: [http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/12/92 Phylogeography of Camellia taliensis (Theaceae) inferred from chloroplast and nuclear DNA: insights into evolutionary history and conservation]</ref>.

Pu-erh traditionally begins as a raw product known as "rough" Mao Cha (毛茶) and can be sold in this form or pressed into a number of shapes and sold as "raw" Sheng Cha ([[wiktionary:生茶|生茶]]). Both of these forms then undergo the complex process of gradual [[fermentation]] and maturation with time. The recently developed Wo Dui process ([[wiktionary:渥堆|渥堆]]) pioneered by both the [[Menghai Tea Factory|Menghai]] and [[Kunming Tea Factory|Kunming Tea]] Factories has created a new type of pu-erh tea that some traditionalists dispute the legitimacy of. This process involves an accelerated fermentation into "ripe" Shou Cha ([[wiktionary:熟茶|熟茶]]) which is then sold loose or pressed in various shapes. All types or pu-erh can be stored for maturity before consumption and that is why it has become common for the products to be labelled with year and region of production.

== Introduction and history ==
[[File:Stash-of-pu-erh.webp|thumb|stash of Pu-erh]]
Dark tea to trade with ethnic groups at the borders has a long history in China. These crude teas were of various origins and were meant to be low cost. [[Hei Cha]] (dark tea), is still the major beverage for the ethnic groups in the southwestern borders and, until the early 1990s, was the third major tea category produced by China mainly for this market segment.

There had been no standardized processing for the darkening of Hei Cha until the postwar years in the 1950s where there was a sudden surge in demand in Hong Kong, perhaps because of the concentration of refugees from the mainland. In the 1970s the improved process was taken back to Yunnan for further development, which has resulted in the various production styles variously referred to as Wo Dui today. This new process produced a finished product in a manner of months that many thought tasted similar to teas aged naturally for 10-15 years and so this period saw a demand-driven boom in the production of Hei Cha by the artificial ripening method.

In recent decades, demand has come full circle and it has become more common again for Hei Cha, including Pu-erh, to be sold as the raw product without the artificial accelerated fermentation process.

Pu-erh tea processing, although straightforward, is complicated by the fact that the tea itself falls into two distinct categories: the "raw" Sheng Cha and the "ripe" Shou Cha. All types of pu-erh tea are created from ''máochá'' (毛茶]]), a mostly unoxidized [[green tea]] processed from a "large leaf" variety of ''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' (C. sinensis var. assamica or C. taliensis) found in the mountains of southern Yunnan. 

Maocha can be sold directly to market as loose leaf tea, compressed to produce "raw" Sheng Cha, naturally aged and matured for several year before being compressed to also produce "raw" Sheng Cha or undergo Wo Dui ripening for several months prior to being compressed to produce "ripe" Shou Cha. While unaged and unprocessed, Maocha pu-erh is similar to green tea. Two subtle differences worth noting are that pu-erh is not produced from the small leaf chinese varietal but the broad leaf varietal mostly found in the southern Chinese Provinces and India. The second, is that pu-erh leaves are picked as one bud and 3-4 leaves whilst green tea is picked as one bud and 1-2 leaves. This means that older leaves contribute to the qualities of pu-erh tea.

Ripened or aged raw pu-erh has occasionally been mistakenly categorised as a subcategory of black tea due to the dark red colour of its leaves and liquor. However, pu-erh in both its ripened and aged forms has undergone secondary oxidization and fermentation caused both by organisms growing in the tea and free-radical oxidation, thus making it a unique type of tea. This divergence in production style not only makes the flavour and texture of pu-erh tea different but also results in a rather different chemical makeup to resulting brewed liquor.

The fermented dark tea, Hei Cha (黑茶), is one of the six classes of tea in China, and pu-erh is classified as a dark tea (defined as fermented), something which is resented by some who argue for a separate category for pu-erh tea.

==Processing==
[[File:Drying-pu-erh-cakes.webp|thumb|drying Pu-erh]]

Pu-erh is typically made through the following steps:
# green/raw 青普: sun fixation 曬青 > rolling 揉捻 > sun drying 曬乾
# dark/ripe 熟普: sun fixation 曬青 > rolling 揉捻 > Wo Dui (piling) 渥堆 > sun drying 曬乾
# added processes: green and dark ''pu-erh'' can be compressed/shaped into cakes and aged.

===Raw pu-erh and ''maocha''===
[[Image:Huang-Pian.webp|thumb|right|Pu-erh tea bricks]]

After picking appropriate tender leaves, the first step in making raw or ripened pu-erh is an optional wilting/withering stage, thus converting the leaf to ''maocha'' ([[wikt:青|青]][[wikt:毛|毛]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]] or [[wikt:毛|毛]][[wikt:茶|茶]]; literally, "light green rough tea" or "rough tea" respectively). Plucked leaves are handled gingerly to prevent bruising and unwanted oxidation. Weather permitting, the leaves are then spread out in the sun or a ventilated space to wilt and remove some of the water content. On overcast or rainy days, the leaves will be wilted by light heating, a slight difference in processing that will affect the quality of the resulting ''maocha'' and pu-erh. The wilting process may be skipped altogether depending on the tea processor.

The leaves are then dry pan-fried using a large wok in a process called "kill green" ([[wikt:殺|殺]][[wikt:青|青]]; pinyin: ''shā qīng''), which arrests most enzyme activity in the leaf and prevents full oxidation. After pan-frying, the leaves are rolled, rubbed, and shaped into strands through several steps to lightly bruise the tea and then left to dry in the sun. Unlike green tea produced in china which is dried with hot air after the pan-frying stage to completely kill enzyme activity, leaves used in the production of pu-erh are only pan-fried and thus a small amount of enyzmes are left which contribute a minor amount of oxidation to the leaves during sun-drying. The bruising of the tea is also important in helping this minimal oxidation to occur and both of these steps are significant in contributing to the uniqueness of pu-erh tea. Once dry, ''maocha'' can be sent directly to the factory to be pressed into raw pu-erh, or to undergo further processing to make ripened pu-erh. Sometimes ''Mao Cha'' is sold directly as loose-leaf "raw" Sheng Cha or it can be matured for 2-3 years in loose leaf form due to the faster rate of natural fermentation in an uncompressed state. This product is then pressed into numerous shapes and sold as "raw" Sheng Cha as a more matured final product.

=== Ripe pu-erh ===

"Ripened" Shou Cha (熟茶) tea is pressed ''maocha'' that has been specially processed to imitate aged "raw" Sheng Cha tea. Although it is also known as cooked pu-erh, the process does not actually employ cooking to imitate the aging process. The term may come about due to inaccurate translation due to the dual meaning of ''shú'' (熟) as both "fully cooked" and "fully ripened".

The process used to convert ''máochá'' into ripened pu-erh is a recent invention that manipulates conditions to approximate the result of the aging process by prolonged bacterial and fungal fermentation in a warm humid environment under controlled conditions, a technique called ''Wò Dūi'' ([[wikt:渥|渥]][[wikt:堆|堆]], "wet piling" in English), which involves piling, dampening, and turning the tea leaves in a manner much akin to composting.

The piling, wetting, and mixing of the piled ''máochá'' ensures even fermentation.  The bacterial and fungal cultures found in the fermenting piles were found to vary widely from factory to factory throughout Yunnan, consisting of multiple strains of ''Aspergillus'' spp., ''Penicillium'' spp., yeasts, and a wide range of other microflora. Control over the multiple variables in the ripening process, particularly humidity and the growth of ''Aspergillus'' spp., is key in producing ripened ''pu-erh'' of high quality. Poor control in fermentation/oxidation process can result in bad ripened pu-erh, characterized by badly decomposed leaves and an aroma and texture reminiscent of compost. The ripening process typically takes anywhere from half a year to one year after it has begun. As such, a ripened pu-erh produced in early 2004 will be pressed in the winter of 2004/2005, and appear on the market between late 2005 and early 2006.

This process was first developed in 1972 by Menghai Tea Factory and Kunming Tea Factory to imitate the flavor and color of aged raw pu-erh, and was an adaptation of wet storage techniques being used by merchants to falsify the age of their teas. Mass production of ripened pu-erh began in 1975. It can be consumed without further aging, though it can also be stored to "air out" some of the less savory flavors and aromas acquired during fermentation. The tea is often compressed, but is also common in loose form. Some tea collectors believe "ripened" Sheng Cha should not be aged for more than a decade.

=== Pressing ===
[[File:Pu-erh-stone.webp|thumb|Pu-erh stone]]

To produce pu-erh, many additional steps are needed prior to the actual pressing of the tea. First, a specific quantity of dry ''máochá'' or ripened tea leaves pertaining to the final weight of the ''bingcha'' is weighed out. The dry tea is then lightly steamed in perforated cans to soften and make it more tacky. This will allow it to hold together and not crumble during compression. A ticket, called a "''nèi fēi''" ([[wiktionary:内|内]][[wiktionary:飞|飞]]) or additional adornments, such as coloured ribbons, are placed on or in the midst of the leaves and inverted into a cloth bag or wrapped in cloth. The pouch of tea is gathered inside the cloth bag and wrung into a ball, with the extra cloth tied or coiled around itself. This coil or knot is what produces the dimpled indentation at the reverse side of a tea cake when pressed. Depending on the shape of the pu-erh being produced, a cotton bag may or may not be used. For instance, brick or square teas often are not compressed using bags.

Depending on the desired product and speed, from quickest and tightest to slowest and loosest, pressing can either be done by:
* A hydraulic press, which forces the tea into a metal form that is occasionally decorated with a motif in sunken-relief. Due to its efficiency, this method is used to make almost all forms of pressed pu-erh. Tea can be pressed either with or without it being bagged, with the latter done by using a metal mould. Tightly compressed ''bǐng'', formed directly into a mold without bags using this method are known as ''tié bǐng'' (鐵餅) due to its density and hardness. The taste of densely compressed raw pu-erh is believed to benefit from careful aging for up to several decades.
* A lever press, which was operated by hand for tight pressings and has largely been replaced by the modern hydraulic press.
* A large heavy stone, carved into the shape of a short cylinder with a handle, simply weighs a bag of tea down onto a wooden board. The tension from the bag and the weight of the stone together give the tea its rounded and sometimes non-uniformed edge. Due to the manual labor involved, this method of pressing is often referred to as: "hand" or "stone-pressing", and is how many artisanal ''pu-erh bǐng'' are still manufactured.

Pressed pu-erh is removed from the cloth bag and placed on latticed shelves, where they are allowed to air dry, which may take several weeks or months, depending on the wetness of the pressed cakes. The pu-erh cakes are then individually wrapped by hand, and packaged in larger units for trade or commerce.

==Classification==
Aside from vintage year, pu-erh tea can be classified in a variety of ways: by shape, processing method, region, cultivation, grade, and season.

===Shape===
Pu-erh is compressed into a variety of shapes. Other lesser seen forms include: stacked "melon pagodas", pillars, calabashes, ''yuanbao'', and small bricks (2–5&nbsp;cm in width). ''pu-erh'' is also compressed into the hollow centers of bamboo stems or packed and bound into a ball inside the peel of various citrus fruits.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" ; | Image
! rowspan="2" ; | Common name
! colspan="2" ; | Chinese characters
! rowspan="2" ; | Pinyin
! rowspan="2" ; | Description
|-
!S
!T
|-
| [[Image:Pu-erh.webp|150px]]
|''Bing'', ''Beeng'', Cake, or Disc
| 饼茶
| 餅茶
| ''Bǐngchá''
| A round, flat, disc or puck-shaped tea, the size ranges from as small as 100g to as large as 5&nbsp;kg or more, with 357g, 400g, and 500g being the most common. Depending on the pressing method, the edge of the disk can be rounded or perpendicular. It is also commonly known as ''Qīzí bǐngchá'' (七子餅茶, literally "seven units cake tea") because seven of the ''bing'' are packaged together at a time for sale or transport.
|-
| [[Image:Xiaguan 1992 tuo cha.jpg|150px]]
|''Tuocha, Bowl, or Nest''
| [[wiktionary:沱|沱]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| [[wiktionary:沱|沱]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| ''Tuóchá''
| A convex knob-shaped tea, its size ranges from 3g to 3&nbsp;kg or more, with 100g, 250g and 500g being the most common. The name for ''tuocha'' is believed to have originated from the round, top-like shape of the pressed tea or from the old tea shipping and trading route of the Tuo River. In ancient times, ''tuocha'' cakes may have had holes punched through the center so they could be tied together on a rope for easy transport.
|-
| [[Image:Huang-Pian.webp|150px]]
| Brick
| [[wiktionary:砖|砖]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| [[wiktionary:磚|磚]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| Zhuānchá
| A thick rectangular block of tea, usually in 100g, 250g, 500g and 1000g sizes; ''Zhuancha'' bricks are the traditional shape used for ease of transport along the ancient tea route by horse caravans.
|-
| [[Image:Fang cha.jpg|150px]]
| Square
| [[wiktionary:方|方]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| [[wiktionary:方|方]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| ''Fāngchá''
| A flat square of tea, usually in 100g or 200g sizes, they often contain words pressed into the square.
|-
| [[Image:jincha.jpg|150px]]
| Mushroom
| [[wiktionary:紧|紧]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| [[wiktionary:緊|緊]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]]
| ''Jǐnchá''
| Literally meaning "tight tea," the tea is shaped much like ''túocha'', but with a stem rather than a convex hollow. This makes them quite similar in form to a mushroom. ''pu-erh'' tea of this shape is generally produced for Tibetan consumption, and is usually 250g or 300g.
|-
| [[Image:Golden melon.jpg|150px]]
| Melon, or gold melon
| [[wikt:金|金]][[wikt:瓜|瓜]]
| [[wikt:金|金]][[wikt:瓜|瓜]]
| ''Jīnguā''
| Its shape is similar to ''tuóchá'', but larger in size, with a much thicker body decorated with pumpkin-like stripes. This shape was created for the famous "Tribute tea" ([[wikt:貢|貢]][[wikt:茶|茶]]) made expressly for the Qing Dynasty emperors from the best tea leaves of Yiwu Mountain. Larger specimens of this shape are sometimes called "human-head tea" ([[wikt:人|人]][[wikt:頭|頭]][[wikt:茶|茶]]), due in part to its size and shape, and because in the past it was often presented in court in a similar manner to severed heads of enemies or criminals.
|}

===Process and oxidation===
[[File:Sorting-maocha.webp|thumb|sorting maocha]]

Pu-erh teas are often collectively classified in Western and Eastern tea markets as post-fermentation or black teas respectively, but there is general confusion due to improper use of the terms oxidation and fermentation. Typically black tea is termed fully fermented which is incorrect as the process used to create black tea is oxidation and does not involve microbial activity. Black teas are fully oxidized, Green teas are un-oxidized and Oolong teas are partially oxidized to varying degrees. Yellow tea is oxidized to a minimal degree during sun drying and thus is very similar to how pu-erh begins its very different process.

All Pu-erh teas undergo some oxidation during sun drying and then become either 1) fully fermented with microbes during a processing phase which is largely anerobic, i.e. without the presence of oxygen. This phase is similar to composting and results in Shu (ripened) Pu-erh, or 2) partly fermented (by microbes) and partly oxidized during the natural aging process resulting in Sheng (raw) Pu-erh. The aging process is controlled by the owner and thus the degree of fermentation and oxidization achieved depends on how the Sheng Pu-erh is stored.

According to the production process, four main types of pu-erh are commonly available on the market:
*''Maocha'' is the green pu-erh leaves sold in loose form as the raw material for making pressed pu-erh. Badly processed ''maocha'' will result in an inferior pu-erh.
*Green/raw pu-erh is pressed ''maocha'' that has not undergone additional processing; high quality green pu-erh is highly sought by collectors.
*Ripened/cooked pu-erh is pressed ''maocha'' that has undergone fermentation in the ripening process for up to a year. Badly fermented ''maocha'' will create a muddy tea with fishy and sour flavours indicative of inferior aged pu-erh.
*Aged raw pu-erh is a tea that has undergone a slow secondary oxidation and a certain degree of microbial fermentation. Although all types of pu-erh can be aged, the pressed raw pu-erh is typically the most highly regarded, since aged ''maocha'' and ripened pu-erh both lack a clean and assertive taste.

===Regions===
====Yunnan====
[[File:Jing-Mai.webp|thumb|Jing  Mai village]]

Yunnan province produces the vast majority of ''pu-erh'' tea. Indeed, the province is the source of the tea's name, pu-erh Hani and Yi Autonomous County. ''pu-erh'' is produced in almost every county and prefecture in the province, but the most famous ''pu-erh'' areas are known as the Six Famous Tea Mountains [[wiktionary:六|六]][[wiktionary:大|大]][[wiktionary:茶|茶]][[wiktionary:山|山]]

=====Six famous tea mountains=====
[[File:Yibang-town.webp|thumb|Yibang town with the famous horse route]]

The six famous tea mountains are a group of mountains in Xishuangbanna, renowned for their climates and environments, which not only provide excellent growing conditions for ''pu-erh'', but also produce unique taste profiles (akin to terroir in wine) in the produced ''pu-erh'' tea. Over the course of history, the designated mountains for the tea mountains have either been changed or listed differently.

In the Qing dynasty government records for pu-erh (普洱府志), the oldest historically designated mountains were said to be named after six commemorative items left in the mountains by Zhuge Liang, and using the Chinese characters of the native language of the region. These mountains are all located northeast of the Lancang River (Mekong) in relatively close proximity to one another. The mountains' names, in the Standard Chinese character pronunciation are:
#''Gedeng'' ([[wiktionary:革|革]][[wiktionary:登|登]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term for "leather stirrup" ([[wiktionary:马|马]][[wiktionary:蹬|蹬]], pinyin: mǎdèng)
#''Mansa'' ([[wiktionary:慢|慢]][[wiktionary:撤|撤]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term for "seed sowing bag" ([[wiktionary:撒|撒]][[wiktionary:袋|袋]], pinyin: sǎdài)
#''Mangzhi'' ([[wiktionary:莽|莽]][[wiktionary:枝|枝]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term for "copper cauldron" ([[wiktionary:铜|铜]][[wiktionary:鉧|鉧]], pinyin: tóngmǔ)
#''Manzhuan'' ([[wiktionary:蠻|蠻]][[wiktionary:磚|磚]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term for iron brick" ([[wiktionary:铁|铁]][[wiktionary:砖|砖]], pinyin: tiězhuān)
#''Yibang''([[wiktionary:倚|倚]][[wiktionary:邦|邦]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term for "wooden clapper" ([[wiktionary:木|木]][[wiktionary:梆|梆]], pinyin: mùbāng)
#''Yōulè'' ([[wiktionary:攸|攸]][[wiktionary:樂|樂]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): The term meaning "copper gong" ([[wiktionary:铜|铜]][[wiktionary:锣|锣]], pinyin: tóngluó)

Southwest of the river there are also six famous tea mountains that are lesser known from ancient times due to their isolation by the river. They are:
#''Mengsong'' (勐宋山):
#''Menghai'' (勐海山):
#''Jingmai'' (景迈山):
#''Nánnuò'' ([[wiktionary:南|南]][[wiktionary:糯|糯]][[wiktionary:山|山]]): a varietal of tea grows here called ''zĭjuān'' ([[wiktionary:紫|紫]][[wiktionary:娟|娟]], literally "purple lady") whose buds and bud leaves have a purple hue.
#''Bada'' (巴达山):
#''Yōulè'' ([[wiktionary:攸|攸]][[wiktionary:乐|乐]][[wiktionary:山|山]]):

For various reasons, by the end of the Qing dynasty or beginning of the ROC period, tea production in these mountains dropped drastically, either due to large forest fires, overharvesting, prohibitive imperial taxes, or general neglect. To revitalize tea production in the area, the Chinese government in 1962 selected a new group of six famous tea mountains that were named based on the more important tea producing mountains at the time, including Youle mountain from the original six.

=====Other areas of Yunnan=====
Many other areas of Yunnan also produce ''pu-erh'' tea. Yunnan prefectures that are major producers of ''pu-erh'' include Lincang, Dehong, Simao, Xishuangbanna, and Wenshan. Other tea mountains famous in Yunnan include among others:
* ''Bāngwǎi'' ([[wiktionary:邦|邦]][[wiktionary:崴|崴]][[wiktionary:山|山]])
* ''Bānzhāng'' ([[wiktionary:班|班]][[wiktionary:章|章]]): this is not a mountain but a Hani ethnicity village in the Bulang Mountains, noted for producing powerful and complex teas that are bitter with a sweet aftertaste
* ''Yìwǔ'' ([[wiktionary:易|易]][[wiktionary:武|武]][[wiktionary:山|山]]) : perhaps the most popular tea mountain amongst collectors.
* ''Bada''(巴達山):
* ''Wuliang'':
* ''Ailuo'':
* ''Jinggu'':
* ''Baoshan'':
* ''Yushou'':
Region is but one factor in assessing a ''pu-erh'' tea, and ''pu-erh'' from any region of Yunnan is as prized as any from the six famous tea mountains if it meets other criteria, such as being wild growth, hand-processed tea.

====Other provinces====
While Yunnan produces the majority of ''pu-erh'', other regions of China, including [[Hunan]] and [[Guangdong]], have also produced the tea. The Guangyun Gong cake, for example, although the early productions were composed of pure Yunnan ''máochá'', after the 60's the cakes featured a blend of Yunnan and Guangdong ''máochá'', and the most recent production of these cakes contains mostly from the latter.

In late 2008, the Chinese government approved a standard declaring ''pu-erh'' tea as a "product with geographical indications", which would restrict the naming of tea as ''pu-erh'' to tea produced within specific regions of the Yunnan province.  The standard has been disputed, particularly by producers from Guangdong.

====Other regions====
In addition to China, border regions touching Yunnan in Vietnam, Laos, and Burma are also known to produce ''pu-erh'' tea, though little of this makes its way to the Chinese or international markets.

===Cultivation===
[[File:Jing-Mai-Gushu.webp|thumb|Gushu (ancient tree) in Jing Mai]]

Perhaps equally or even more important than region or even grade in classifying ''pu-erh'' is the method of cultivation. ''pu-erh'' tea can come from three different cultivation methods:
*Plantation bushes (''guànmù'', [[wiktionary:灌|灌]][[wiktionary:木|木]]; ''taídì'', [[wiktionary:台|台]][[wiktionary:地|地]]): Cultivated tea bushes, from the seeds or cuttings of wild tea trees and planted in relatively low altitudes and flatter terrain. The tea produced from these plants are considered inferior due to the use of pesticides and [[Fertilizer|chemical fertilizer]] in cultivation, and the lack of pleasant flavours, and the presence of harsh bitterness and astringency from the tea.
*"Wild arbor" trees (''yěfàng'', [[wiktionary:野|野]][[wiktionary:放|放]]): Most producers claim that their ''pu-erh'' is from wild trees, but most use leaves from older plantations that were cultivated in previous generations that have gone feral due to the lack of care. These trees produce teas of better flavour due to the higher levels of [[secondary metabolite]] produced in the tea tree. As well, the trees are typically cared for using organic practices, which includes the scheduled pruning of the trees in a manner similar to pollarding. Despite the good quality of their produced teas, "wild arbor" trees are not as prized as the truly wild trees.
*''Wild trees'' (gŭshù, [[wiktionary:古|古]][[wiktionary:树|树]]; literally "old tree"): Teas from old wild trees, grown without human intervention, are the highest valued ''pu-erh'' teas. Such teas are valued for having deeper and more complex flavors, often with camphor or "mint" notes, said to be imparted by the many camphor trees that grow in the same environment as the wild tea trees. Young raw ''pu-erh'' teas produced from the leaf tips of these trees also lack overwhelming astringency and bitterness often attributed to young ''pu-erh''.

Determining whether or not a tea is wild is a challenging task, made more difficult through the inconsistent and unclear terminology and labeling in Chinese. Terms like ''yěshēng'' ([[wiktionary:野|野]][[wiktionary:生|生]]; literally "wild" or "uncultivated"), ''qiáomù'' ([[wiktionary:乔|乔]][[wiktionary:木|木]]; literally "tall tree"), ''yěshēng qiáomù'' ([[wiktionary:野|野]][[wiktionary:生|生]][[wiktionary:乔|乔]][[wiktionary:木|木]]; literally "uncultivated trees"), and ''gǔshù'' are found on the labels of cakes of both wild and "wild arbor" variety, and on blended cakes, which contain leaves from tea plants of various cultivations. These inconsistent and often misleading labels can easily confuse uninitiated tea buyers regardless of their grasp of the Chinese language. As well, the lack of specific information about tea leaf sources in the printed wrappers and identifiers that come with the ''pu-erh'' cake makes identification of the tea a difficult task. ''pu-erh'' journals and similar annual guides such as ''The Profound World of Chi Tse'', ''Pu-erh Yearbook'', and ''Pu-erh Teapot Magazine'' contain credible sources for leaf information. Tea factories are generally honest about their leaf sources, but someone without access to tea factory or other information is often at the mercy of the middlemen or an unscrupulous vendor. Many ''pu-erh'' aficionados seek out and maintain relationships with vendors who they feel they can trust to help mitigate the issue of finding the "truth" of the leaves.

Sadly, even in the best of circumstances, when a journal, factory information, and trustworthy vendor all align to assure a tea's genuinely wild leaf, fakes fill the market and make the issue even more complicated. Because collectors often doubt the reliability of written information, some believe certain physical aspects of the leaf can point to its cultivation. For example, drinkers cite the evidence of a truly wild old tree in a menthol effect ("camphor" in tea specialist terminology) supposedly caused by the Camphor laurel trees that grow amongst wild tea trees in Yunnan's tea forests. As well, the presence of thick veins and sawtooth-edged on the leaves along with camphor flavor elements and taken as signifiers of wild tea.

===Grade===
''pu-erh'' can be sorted into ten or more grades. Generally, grades are determined by leaf size and quality, with higher numbered grades meaning older/larger, broken, or less tender leaves. Grading is rarely consistent between factories, and first grade tea leaves may not necessarily produce first grade cakes. Different grades have different flavours, and many bricks feature a blend of several grades chosen to balance flavours and strength.

===Season===
Harvest season also plays an important role in the flavour of ''pu-erh''. Spring tea is the most highly valued, followed by fall tea, and finally summer tea. Only rarely is ''pu-erh'' produced in winter months, and often this is what is called "early spring" tea, as harvest and production follows the weather pattern rather than strict monthly guidelines.

==Tea factories==

Factories are generally responsible for the production of ''pu-erh'' teas. While some individuals oversee smaller higher-end productions, such as the Xizihao and Yanqinghao brands, the majority of tea on the market is compressed by factories or tea groups. Until recently, factories were all state owned and under the supervision of the ''China National Native Produce & Animal Byproducts Import & Export company'' (CNNP), Yunnan Branch. Kunming Tea Factory, Menghai Tea Factory, pu-erh Tea Factory and Xiaguan Tea Factory are the most notable of these state owned factories. While CNNP still operates today, few factories are state-owned, and CNNP contracts out many productions to privately owned factories.

Different tea factories have garnered good reputations. Menghai Tea Factory and Xiaguan Tea Factory, which date from the 1940s, have enjoyed good reputations, but these factories now face competition from many of the newly emerging private factories. For example, Haiwan Tea Factory, founded by former Menghai Factory owner Zhou Bing Liang in 1999, enjoys a good reputation, as does Changtai Tea Group, Mengku Tea Company, and other new tea makers formed in the 1990s. However, due to production inconsistencies and variations in manufacturing techniques, the reputation of a tea company or factory can vary depending on the year or the specific cakes produced during a year.

The producing factory is often the first or second item listed when referencing a ''pu-erh'' cake, the other being the year of production.

==Recipes==
[[File:Xiaguan-Tuocha.jpg|thumb|Xiaguan Tuocha]]

Tea factories, particularly formerly government-owned factories, produce many cakes using recipes for tea blends, indicated by a four-digit ''recipe number''. The first two digits of recipe numbers represent the year the recipe was first produced, the third digit represents the grade of leaves used in the recipe, and the last digit represents the factory. The number 7542, for example, would denote a recipe from 19''75'' using ''fourth''-grade tea leaf made by Menghai Tea Factory (represented by ''2''). There are also those who believe that the third number indicates a recipe for a particular production year.
*'''Factory numbers (fourth digit in recipe):'''
*# [[Kunming Tea Factory]]
*# [[Menghai Tea Factory]]
*# [[Xiaguan Tea Factory]]
*# Lan Cang Tea Factory or Feng Qing Tea Factory
*# Pu-erh Tea Factory (now Pu-erh Tea group Co.Ltd )
*# Six Famous Tea Mountain Factory
*# unknown / not specified
*# [[Haiwan Tea Factory]] and Long Sheng Tea Factory

Tea of all shapes can be made by numbered recipe. Not all recipes are numbered, and not all cakes are made by recipe. The term "recipe," it should be added, does not always indicate consistency, as the quality of some recipes change from year-to-year, as do the contents of the cake. Perhaps only the factories producing the recipes really know what makes them consistent enough to label by these numbers.

Occasionally, a three digit code is attached to the recipe number by hyphenation. The first digit of this code represents the year the cake was produced, and the other two numbers indicate the production number within that year. For instance, the seven digit sequence ''8653-602'', would indicate the ''second'' production in 200''6'' of factory recipe 8653. Some productions of cakes are valued over others because production numbers can indicate if a tea was produced earlier or later in a season/year. This information allows one to be able to single out tea cakes produced using a better batch of ''máochá''.

==Tea packaging==
[[File:Wraping-pu-erh.webp|thumbnail|right|Pu-Erh packing]]

''pu-erh'' tea is specially packaged for trade, identification, and storage. These attributes are used by tea drinkers and collectors to determine the authenticity of the pu-erh tea.

===Individual cakes===
''pu-erh'' tea cakes, or ''Bĭngchá'', are almost always sold with a:
* ''Wrapper'': Made usually from thin cotton cloth or cotton paper and shows the tea company/factory, the year of production, the region/mountain of harvest, the plant type, and the recipe number. The wrapper can also contain decals, logos and artwork. Occasionally, more than one wrapper will be used to wrap a pu-erh cake.
* ''Nèi fēi'' ([[wiktionary:内|内]][[wiktionary:飞|飞]] or [[wiktionary:內|內]][[wiktionary:飛|飛]]): A small ticket originally stuck on the tea cake but now usually embedded into the cake during pressing. It is usually used as proof, or a possible sign, to the authenticity of the tea. Some higher end ''pu-erh'' cakes have more than one nèi fēi embedded in the cake. The ticket usually indicates the tea factory and brand.
* ''Nèi piào'' ([[wiktionary:内|内]][[wiktionary:票|票]]): A larger description ticket or flyer packaged loose under the wrapper. Both aid in assuring the identity of the cake. It usually indicates factory and brand. As well, many ''nèi piào'' contain a summary of the tea factories' history and any additional laudatory statements concerning the tea, from its taste and rarity, to its ability to cure diseases and effect weight loss.
* ''Bĭng'': The tea cake itself. Tea cakes or other compressed ''pu-erh'' can be made up of two or more grades of tea, typically with higher grade leaves on the outside of the cake and lower grades or broken leaves in the center. This is done to improve the appearance of the tea cake and improve its sale. Predicting the grade of tea used on the inside takes some effort and experience in selection. However, the area in and around the dimple of the tea cake can sometimes reveal the quality of the inner leaves.

Recently, ''nèi fēi'' have become more important in identifying and preventing counterfeits. Menghai Tea Factory in particular has begun microprinting and embossing their tickets in an effort to curb the growth of counterfeit teas found in the marketplace in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Some ''nèi fēi'' also include vintage year and are production-specific to help identify the cake and prevent counterfeiting through a surfeit of different brand labels.

===Wholesale===
When bought in large quantities, ''pu-erh'' tea is generally sold in stacks, referred to as a ''tŏng'' ([[wiktionary:筒|筒]]), which are wrapped in bamboo shoot husks, bamboo stem husks, or coarse paper. Some tongs of vintage pu-erh will contain a ''tŏng piào'' ([[wiktionary:筒 |筒]][[wiktionary:票 |票]]), or tong ticket, but it is less common to find them in productions past the year 2000. The number of ''bĭngchá'' in a ''tŏng'' varies depending on the weight of individual ''bĭngchá''. For instance one ''tŏng'' can contain:
* Seven 357–500g ''bĭngchá'',
* Five 250g mini-''bĭngchá''
* Ten 100g mini-''bĭngchá''

Twelve ''tŏng'' are referred to as being one ''jiàn'' ([[wiktionary:件|件]]), although some producers/factories vary how many tŏng equal one jiàn. A jiàn of tea, which is bound together in a loose bamboo basket, will usually have a large ''batch ticket'' ([[wiktionary:大 |大]][[wiktionary:票|票]]; pinyin: dàpiào) affixed to its side that will indicate information such as the batch number of the tea in a season, the production quantities, tea type, and the factory where it was produced.

==Aging and storage==
[[File:Yunnan-tea-house.webp|thumb|Pu-erh storage in a tea house in Yunnan]]

''pu-erh'' teas of all varieties, shapes, and cultivation can be aged to improve their flavour, but the tea's physical properties will affect the speed of aging as well as its quality. These properties include:
* ''Leaf quality'': The most important factor, arguably, is leaf quality. ''Maocha'' that has been improperly processed will not age to the level of finesse as properly processed ''maocha''. The grade and cultivation of the leaf also greatly affect its quality, and thus its aging.
* ''Compression'': The tighter a tea is compressed, the slower it will age. In this respect, looser hand- and stone-pressed ''pu-erh''s will age more quickly than denser hydraulic-pressed ''pu-erh''.
* ''Shape and size'' : The more surface area, the faster the tea will age. ''Bingcha'' and ''zhuancha'' thus age more quickly than ''golden melon'', ''tuocha'', or ''jincha''. Larger ''bingcha'' age slower than smaller ''bingcha'', and so forth.

Just as important and the tea's properties, environmental factors for the tea's storage also affect how quickly and successfully a tea ages. They include:
* ''Air flow'': Regulates the oxygen content surrounding the tea and removes odours from the aging tea. Dank, stagnant air will lead to dank, stale smelling aged tea. Wrapping a tea in plastic will eventually arrest the aging process.
* ''Odours'': Tea stored in the presence of strong odours will acquire them, sometimes for the duration of their "lifetime." Airing out ''pu-erh'' teas can reduce these odours, though often not completely.
* ''Humidity'' : The higher the humidity, the faster the tea will age. Liquid water accumulating on tea may accelerate the aging process but can also cause the growth of mold or make the flavour of the tea less desirable. 60–85% humidity is recommended. It is argued whether tea quality is adversely affected if it is subjected to highly fluctuating humidity levels.
* ''Sunlight'': Tea that is exposed to sunlight dries out prematurely, and often becomes bitter.
* ''Temperature'': Teas should not be subjected to high heat since undesirable flavours will develop. However at low temperatures, the aging of ''pu-erh'' tea will slow down drastically. It is argued whether tea quality is adversely affected if it is subjected to highly fluctuating temperature.

When preserved as part of a ''tong'', the material of the ''tong'' wrapper, whether it is made of bamboo shoot husks, bamboo leaves, or thick paper, can also affect the quality of the aging process. The packaging methods change the environmental factors and may even contribute to the taste of the tea itself.

Further to what has been mentioned it should be stressed that a good well-aged pu-erh tea is not evaluated by its age alone. Like all things in life, there will come a time when a pu-erh teacake reaches its peak before stumbling into a decline. Due to the many recipes and different processing method used in the production of different batches of pu-erh, the optimal age for each age will vary. Some may take 10 years while others 20 or 30+ years. It is important to check the status of ageing for your teacakes to know when they peaked so that proper care can be given to halt the ageing process.

===Raw ''pu-erh''===
Over time, raw ''pu-erh'' acquires an earthy flavor due to slow oxidation and other, possibly microbial processes. However, this oxidation is not analogous to the oxidation that results in green, [[oolong]], or black tea, because the process is not catalyzed by the plant's own enzymes but rather by fungal, bacterial, or autooxidation influences. ''pu-erh'' flavors can change dramatically over the course of the aging process, resulting in a brew tasting strongly earthy but clean and smooth, reminiscent of the smell of rich garden soil or an autumn leaf pile, sometimes with roasted or sweet undertones. Because of its ability to age without losing "quality", well aged good ''pu-erh'' gains value over time in the same way that aged roasted oolong does.<

Raw ''pu-erh'' can undergo "wet storage" (''shīcāng'', [[wiktionary:湿|湿]][[wiktionary:仓|仓]]) and "dry storage" (''gāncāng'' [[wiktionary:干|干]][[wiktionary:仓|仓]]), with teas that have undergone the latter ageing more slowly, but thought to show more complexity. Dry storage involves keeping the tea in "comfortable" temperature and humidity, thus allowing the aging process to occur slowly. Wet Storage or "humid storage" refers to the storage of pu-erh tea in humid environments, such as those found naturally in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and, to a lesser extent, Taiwan.

The practice of "Pen Shui" [[wiktionary:喷|喷]][[wiktionary:水|水]] involves spraying the tea with water and allowing it dry off in a humid environment. This process speeds up oxidation and microbial conversion, which only loosely mimics the quality of natural dry storage aged pu-erh. "Pen Shui" [[wiktionary:喷|喷]][[wiktionary:水|水]] ''pu-erh'' not only does not acquire the nuances of slow aging, it can also be hazardous to drink because of mold, yeast, and bacteria cultures.

''pu-erh'' properly stored in different environments can develop different tastes at different rates due to environmental differences in ambient humidity, temperature, and odours. For instance, similar batches of ''pu-erh'' stored in the different environments of Taiwan and Hong Kong are known to age very differently. Because the process of aging ''pu-erh'' is a lengthy one and teas may change owners several times, a batch of ''pu-erh'' may undergo different aging conditions, even swapping wet and dry storage conditions, which can drastically alter the flavor of that tea.  Raw ''pu-erh'' should not be stored at very high temperatures, or be exposed to direct contact with sunlight, heavy air flow, liquid water, or unpleasant smells, since such poor storage conditions can ruin even the best quality ''pu-erh''.

Although low to moderate air flow is important for producing a good quality aged raw ''pu-erh'', it is generally agreed by most collectors and connoisseurs that raw ''pu-erh'' tea cakes older than 30 years old should not be further exposed to "open" air since it would result in the loss of flavours or degradation in mouthfeel. The tea should instead be preserved by wrapping or hermetically sealing it in plastic wrapping or ideally glass.

===Ripe pu-erh===

Since the ripening process was developed to imitate aged raw ''pu-erh'', many arguments surround the idea of whether aging ripened ''pu-erh'' is desirable. Mostly, the issue rests on whether aging ripened ''pu-erh'' will, better or worse, alter the flavor of the tea.

It is often recommended to age ripened ''pu-erh'' to "air out" the unpleasant musty flavors and odors formed due to maocha fermentation. However, some collectors argue that keeping ripened ''pu-erh'' longer than 10 to 15 years makes little sense, stating that the tea will not develop further and possibly lose its desirable flavors. Others note that their experience has taught them that ripened ''pu-erh'' indeed does take on nuances through aging, and point to side-by-side taste comparisons of ripened ''pu-erh'' of different ages. Though the storing period increases the value of the tea, it is not often that such actions will be taken as it is not economically efficient.

==Preparation==
Preparation of ''pu-erh'' involves first separating a well-sized portion of the compressed tea for brewing. This can be done by flaking off pieces of the cake or by steaming the entire cake until it is soft from heat and hydration. A ''pu-erh knife'', which is similar to an oyster knife or a rigid letter opener, is used to pry large horizontal flakes of tea off the cake such as to minimize leaf breakage. Steaming is usually performed on smaller teas such as ''tuocha'' or mushroom ''pu-erh'' and involves steaming the cake until it can be rubbed apart and then dried. In both cases, a vertical sampling of the cake should be obtained since the quality of the leaves in a cake usually varies between the surface and the center of the cake.

''pu-erh'' is generally expected to be served [[Gongfu]] style, generally in ''[[Yixing clay|Yixing]] teaware'' or in a type of Chinese teacup called a ''[[gaiwan]]''. Optimum temperatures are generally regarded to be around 95 degree Celsius for lower quality ''pu-erh''s and 85–89 degree Celsius for good ripened and aged raw ''pu-erh''. Steeping times last from 12–30 seconds in the first few infusions, up to 2–10 minutes in the last infusions. The prolonged steeping techniques used by some western tea makers can produce dark, bitter, and unpleasant brews. Quality aged ''pu-erh'' can yield many more infusions, with different flavour nuances when brewed in the traditional Gong-Fu method.

Because of the prolonged fermentation in ripened ''pu-erh'' and slow oxidization of aged raw ''pu-erh'', these teas often lack the bitter, astringent properties of other tea types, and also can be brewed much stronger and repeatedly, with some claiming 20 or more infusions of tea from one pot of leaves. On the other hand, young raw ''pu-erh'' is known and expected to be strong and aromatic, yet very bitter and somewhat astringent when brewed, since these characteristics are believed to produce better aged raw ''pu-erh''.

===Judging quality===

Quality of the tea can be determined through inspecting the dried leaves, the tea liquor, or the spent tea leaves. The "true" quality of a specific batch of ''pu-erh'' can ultimately only be revealed when the tea is brewed and tasted. Although, not concrete and sometimes dependent on preference, there are several general indicators of quality:
* ''Dried tea'': There should be a lack of twigs, extraneous matter and white or dark mold spots on the surface of the compressed ''pu-erh''. The leaves should ideally be whole, visually distinct, and not appear muddy. The leaves may be dry and fragile, but not powdery. Good tea should be quite fragrant, even when dry. Good pressed pu-erh often have a matte sheen on the surface of the cake, though this is not necessarily a sole indicator of quality
* ''Liquor'': The tea liquor of both raw and ripe ''pu-erh'' should never appear cloudy. Well-aged raw ''pu-erh'' and well-crafted ripe ''pu-erh'' tea may produce a dark reddish liquor, reminiscent of a dried jujube, but in either case the liquor should not be opaque, "muddy," or black in colour. The flavours of ''pu-erh'' liquors should persist and be revealed throughout separate or subsequent infusions, and never abruptly disappear, since this could be the sign of added flavorants.
**''Young raw Puerh'':The ideal liquors should be aromatic with a light but distinct odours of camphor, rich herbal notes like Chinese medicine, fragrance floral notes, hints of dried fruit aromas such as preserved plums, and should exhibit only some grassy notes to the likes of fresh [[sencha]]. Young raw ''pu-erh'' may sometimes be quite bitter and astringent, but should also exhibit a pleasant mouthfeel and "sweet" aftertaste, referred to as ''gān'' (甘) and ''húigān''(回甘).
**''Aged raw Puerh'': Aged pu-erh should never smell moldy, musty, or strongly fungal, though some ''pu-erh'' drinkers consider these smells to be unoffensive or even enjoyable. The smell of aged pu-erh may vary, with an "aged" but not "stuffy" odour. The taste of aged raw ''pu-erh'' or ripe ''pu-erh'' should be smooth, with slight hints of bitterness, and lack a biting astringency or any off-sour tastes. The element of taste is an important indicator of aged pu-erh quality, the texture should be rich and thick and should have very distinct ''gān'' (甘) and ''húigān''(回甘) on the tongue and cheeks, which together induces salivation and leaves a "feeling" in the back of the throat.
* ''Spent tea'': Whole leaves and leaf bud systems should be easily seen and picked out of the wet spent tea, with a limited amount of broken fragments. Twigs, and the fruits of the tea plant should not be found in the spent tea leaves, however animal (and human) hair, strings, rice grains and chaff may occasionally be included in the tea. The leaves should not crumble when rubbed, and with ripened ''pu-erh'', it should not resemble compost. Aged raw pu-erh should have leaves that unfurl when brewed while leaves of most ripened pu-erh will generally remain closed.

===Practices===
In Cantonese culture, pu-erh is known as ''po-lay'' (or ''bo-lay'') tea. Among the Cantonese long settled in California, it is called ''bo-nay'' or ''po-nay'' tea. It is often drunk during dim sum meals, as it is believed to help with digestion. It is not uncommon to add dried osmanthus flowers, pomelo rinds, or chrysanthemum flowers into brewing pu-erh tea in order to add a light, fresh fragrance to the tea liquor. pu-erh with chrysanthemum is the most common pairing, and referred as ''guk pou'' or ''guk bou'' ([[wiktionary:菊|菊]][[wiktionary:普|普]]; pinyin: jú pǔ). pu-erh is considered to have some medicinal qualities.

Sometimes wolfberries are brewed with the tea, plumping in the process.

==Health==

Scientific studies report that consumption of pu-erh tea leaves significantly suppressed the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the livers of rats; gains in body weight, levels of triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol were also suppressed. The compositions of chemical components found to have been responsible for these effects ([[catechin]]s, [[caffeine]], and [[theanine]]) varied dramatically between pu-erh, black, [[oolong]], and [[green tea]]s.

Specific mechanisms through which chemicals in pu-erh tea inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the laboratory have been suggested.

pu-erh tea has also been found to have antimutagenic and antimicrobial properties ''in vitro''. (''In vitro'' studies do not necessarily correlate to medicinal effects. An article in Microbiologist, The magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology, in March 2008, Vol 9 No 1, p35, found that tea had many ''in vitro'' antimicrobial properties against many organisms; for example English Breakfast tea at the concentration used for drinking had significant antimicrobial effect on the lethal anthrax bacillus (Bacillus anthracis) and many others, but this did not make it a useful treatment for anthrax.)

pu-erh tea  is widely believed in Chinese cultures to counteract the unpleasant effects of heavy alcohol consumption. In traditional Chinese medicine it is believed to invigorate the spleen and inhibit "dampness." In the stomach, it is believed to reduce heat and "descends qi".

pu-erh tea is widely sold, by itself or in blends, with claims that it promotes loss of body weight in humans, although there is no accepted evidence for this.

Some pu-erh brick tea has been found to contain very high levels of fluorine, because it is generally made from lesser quality older tea leaves and stems, which accumulate fluorine. Its consumption has led to fluorosis (a form of fluoride poisoning that affects the bones and teeth) in areas of high brick tea consumption, such as Tibet.

==Aging==
pu-erh tea can generally improve in taste over time (due to natural secondary oxidation and fermentation). Teas that can be aged finely are typically:
#Made from high quality material
#Processed skillfully
#Stored properly over the years
The common misconception is that all types of pu-erh tea will improve in taste—and therefore get more valuable as an investment item—as they get older.  There are many requisite variables for a pu-erh tea to age beautifully.  Further, the ripe (shou) pu-erh will not evolve as dramatically as the raw (sheng) type will over time from the secondary oxidation and fermentation.

As with wine, only the finely made and properly stored ones will improve and increase in value.  Similarly, the percentage of those that will improve over a long period of time is only a small fraction of what is available in the market today.

Beginning in 2008, much of the pu-erh industry suffered a tremendous drop in prices. Consequently, many have lost their fortunes and some have even decided to stop selling, growing, or distributing pu-erh as a result of the financial loss plaguing many of those in the industry. Investment-grade pu-erh has witnessed declines in price as well, although not as drastically as those varieties which are more common.

==References==
<references />

== External links ==

* [https://www.teamania.ch/blog/en/the-tea-mountains-of-yunnan The Tea Mountains of Yunnan]
* [https://teadb.org/puerh-the-body/ Tea DB: Pu’erh, The Body, and Are You Confused Yet!?]

[[category:Puer]]
[[category:Hei Cha]]
[[category:Chinese tea]]
[[Category:China famous tea]]

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